Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River and Lake Michigan Architecture Cruise by Wendella

4.8/5(239)

Brock G

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

It was a good overall experience. Spiro was a great guide, and the time on the river & lake was very enjoyable. My only small quibble was that I emailed someone there to ask about whether this cruise on the river and lake included all the arms of the river and the lake, or an abbreviated river tour to allow time on the lake. The person who responded said it was all 3 arms of the river and then the lake ... but it ended up being just the east/west arm of the river. Not a huge issue, but a small disappointment.

Virginia R

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The guy who took us on our cruise was very knowledgeable. We learned so much about individual buildings and the development of Chicago in general. I felt like it was a good combination of history and entertainment.

Kathy H

Group

Verified booking

2 days ago

We had an excellent tour guide. Probably the best of all the guides we've ever had in Chicago. The views were amazing of both the river and lake and it was a beautiful day to add to a perfect day.

Kevin M

Group

Verified booking

Aug 2026

The entire outing on the cruise from start to finish was amazing!! The scenery, the buildings, the sights... every single thing was jaw dropping. Relaxing and fun way to see the city from a different perspective. Great operation from start to finish... and we will definitely do it again!!

Frank T

Family

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

We were out on the lake for quite a while, but that was a good thing. It was a great view. A lot of pictures with the skyline in the background and a tour guide as I said was absolutely phenomenal.

Colleen B

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

Our tour guide was fantastic!! He was super knowledgeable about everything we passed on the tour. But he was also very entertaining and funny. I'd highly recommend his tour to anyone.

90-min architecture cruise

Boat cruise on the Chicago River & Lake Michigan

English-speaking tour guide

Food and beverages (available for purchase onboard)

TOTAL DURATION1 hour 30 minutes
FREQUENCYOnce per day
1 Boarding point
Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks
Get direction
Sights covered
Chicago Harbor Lock
Navy Pier
Oak Street Beach
Chicago Lighthouse
Museum Campus
Buckingham Fountain

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

239 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
206
24
8
1
0
Guests from United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and over 18 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Kevin M
Group
Verified booking
Aug 2026
The entire outing on the cruise from start to finish was amazing!! The scenery, the buildings, the sights... every single thing was jaw dropping. Relaxing and fun way to see the city from a different perspective. Great operation from start to finish... and we will definitely do it again!!
Brock G
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
It was a good overall experience. Spiro was a great guide, and the time on the river & lake was very enjoyable. My only small quibble was that I emailed someone there to ask about whether this cruise on the river and lake included all the arms of the river and the lake, or an abbreviated river tour to allow time on the lake. The person who responded said it was all 3 arms of the river and then the lake ... but it ended up being just the east/west arm of the river. Not a huge issue, but a small disappointment.
Virginia R
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The guy who took us on our cruise was very knowledgeable. We learned so much about individual buildings and the development of Chicago in general. I felt like it was a good combination of history and entertainment.
Kathy H
Group
Verified booking
2 days ago
We had an excellent tour guide. Probably the best of all the guides we've ever had in Chicago. The views were amazing of both the river and lake and it was a beautiful day to add to a perfect day.
Frank T
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
We were out on the lake for quite a while, but that was a good thing. It was a great view. A lot of pictures with the skyline in the background and a tour guide as I said was absolutely phenomenal.

What's not allowed

Alcohol, weapons of any kind, flammables, and explosives are not allowed on this experience.

Smoking cigarettes (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited on board.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Your guide dogs are welcome on board the boat.

Additional information

The Captain may adjust the tour route as needed to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.

Safety comes first. All bags are subject to inspection.

The crew reserves the right to deny entry to anyone who appears intoxicated, impaired, or may pose a safety risk.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Wendella Tours & Cruises.

Address: 400 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.

Landmark: The dock is located at the northwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now called the DuSable Bridge), at the base of the Wrigley Building on the Chicago River.

Get directions to the meeting point